The name of Vladimir is a symbol of one of the most important period of Russian middle age history.
The city of Vladimir was the second capital of Russia after Kiev, and one of the main historical centre in the world. For the first time Vladimir is mentioned in chronicles in 990 year d.e. In the 10 century a.c., during the period of rash bloom of powerful Russian state, in the Northern bound of Kiev principality a new Russian centre of culture and state appeared. It was called the city of Vladimir. The three main periods of Russian mediaeval history are associated with the names of three great cities - Kiev, Vladimir and Moscow. The earliest period, wreathed in many a heroic legend, was the time when Kiev was the centre of a rapidly growing, powerful Russian state, whose flourishing handicrafts, trade, literature, art and architecture first revealed to the world the astounding strength and scope of Russian creative genius. During the twelfth century, when the Russian lands were weakened by feudal disintegration, a new centre of Russian culture and political power grew up on its Northeast boundaries in the city of Vladimir.
Vladimir was the youngest of the three large Northeast townships, which also included Suzdal and Rostov, ruled by the boyars. The people and peasants of Vladimir were quick to realise the need to struggle against the feudal disintegration, which was ruining the country, and the alliance of the people with the powerful ruling princes led to the progressive policies of the so-called "Vladimir autocrats", Andrei Bogolyubsky and Vsevolod III, and a brilliant flourishing of culture and the arts. Like the rest of the country, however, Vladimir and its domains suffered heavily from the Mongol invasion and the long years of Mongol rule. Already in the twelfth century an insignificant township began to grow up on the borders of the Vladimir lands, the town of Moscow, which two centuries later was to become the rallying point for the Russian principalities in their struggle to shake off Mongol rule, the centre of the rebirth of Russian culture and the capital of a centralised Russian state.
Just as Vladimir had drawn on the cultural heritage of the Kiev state, so Moscow founded its culture on the great traditions of the Vladimir period. The continuity of Russian culture over the centuries and its tremendous creative output can be seen from the precious relics of the past in which the Vladimir lands abound. This site is intended as a guide to the ancient cities of Vladimir, Bogolyubovo, and Suzdal. The arts in old Russia were closely bound up with the Orthodox Church. For as long as seven centuries most of the architecture consisted of richly decorated stone Churches. Not all from them were kept, and a condition of them now is bad unfortunately, but even these churches leave indelible impression. The soul of orthodox Russian people till now lives in them.

Vladimir region in 20 century.
During the 20th century the Vladimir region survived a lot of dramatic changes. In the beginning of the 20th century Russia was a monarchy. Its economy was gradually transforming from feudal to capitalistic. One's background and education was valuable in the society at that time. Practically all the population were religious and professed Orthodox Christianity. Social morals were very high.
As industry was developing, a bourgeois revolution burst out. It took place in February 1917. If further transformations had gone in the peaceful way, Russia, probably would become like any other European democratic country. But a group of people, that called themselves "Communists and Bolsheviks" were unsatisfied with the February revolution results. And in October 1917 they prepared and carried out a new revolution, which was called "socialist". This was a turning point in the fate of the Russian people, which turned out to be a real tragedy. Its consequences will echo for a long time in this country. In 1917 the society split up in two groups: the supporters and the opponents of the revolution. For several years the revolution was followed by a severe civil war. Some of the communists' opponents emigrated, others were either planted in prisons, or were banished to Siberia and to the Southeast of the country.
All the authority belonged to "Bolsheviks". They hated educated and church people as well as businessmen and gentry. The clergyman were destroyed with special cynicism and cruelty. Bolsheviks robbed churches and then they destroyed them. Here in Vladimir the Nativity Monastery Cathedral, built in the 12th century,was brutally destroyed. "Military atheism" became the state religion. Communists thought up a new ideology: "Russian tsars and monarchs were bad, they oppressed poor people. The October revolution brought to Russians freedom and happiness". The family of the last Russian tsar Nikolay II was terribly murdered, even his five children. That fact was a sin and a shame. The property of Russian Orthodox Church was nationalised. Soviet government has declared in 1932 five-year plan conditionally named "godless". Millions of people there were are subjected to repressions. Most of churches was fullly destructed. War began in 1941...
After the war "Military atheism" was basically stopped, and churches were used for practical needs, crops. I know one church, which was shoe factory, an other was power station, one more cathedral was a museum of atheism, and so on. The ancient town of Suzdal in Vladimir region was declared to be a "city-museum", and here in Vladimir the movement on preservation of historical monuments and churches began. The special organisation was founded to support this movement. It is so called "The States Historical Architecture and Art Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve". Since, that time the ancient monuments and churches of the region received a "protection" of the "godless" state. Consequently, during the seventy years of Soviet ideology the degradation of morality was inevitable. This degradation was also promoted by bureaucrats - communists, who began to abuse their authority. They created for themselves such privileges, that were inaccessible to ordinary people. Eventually the administrative economy of Soviet Union failed. Gradually "the builders of Communism" lost their faith. The life of these people turned to tragedy. They sacrificed themselves to construction of a happy society. Their life was hard. But they dreamed that their grandchildren would live in a fair world. And suddenly this dream failed. Everything that had been done including the revolution was a big mistake...
USSR has disintegrated on separate countries. And gradually the carriers of Russian culture from abroad began to return to Russian Federation. Democracy, free economy and civil laws began to set in the country. But begining from about 2002 AD our country from this whole refuses. And it is a separate hard subject. Most media carry out advocacy of violence and propaganda of hatred towards foreigners, especially Americans. This comes from the leadership of our country and many people believe that. Therefore, foreigners visiting our country now is no longer safe for them. Unfortunately, I must to tell You about this.

This site is devoted to Orthodox temples, which are not only the monuments of history, culture and art, but are Orthodox sacred places first of all. Nowadays the government returns many of them to the Orthodox Church. But some churches still belong to the state as museums and monuments. To my point of view, the main purpose of the churches is to be the places of praying and worship. All of them must belong to the Orthodox Church. Only in that case the temples would receive the high level of protection, care and restoration.